Adaptive media streaming

Abstract

Technology for performing dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (DASH) is described. A planned route may be selected for a mobile device. Wireless channel information may be received for the planned route from a channel information database (CID). Geographical locations along the planned route where wireless network channel conditions are below a defined threshold may be determined based on the wireless channel information. Additional segments of a media file may be requested from a media server prior to entering the determined locations along the planned route.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A user equipment (UE) operable to perform adaptive media streaming, the UE having computer circuitry configured to:
 select a planned route for the UE;   receive wireless channel information for the planned route from a server, the server including a channel information database (CID);   determine locations along the planned route where wireless network channel conditions are below a defined threshold based on the wireless channel information; and   request, from a media server, additional segments of an adaptive media stream for storage in a buffer at the UE prior to entering the determined locations along the planned route, thereby enabling continuous media playback of the media stream along the planned route.   
     
     
         2 . The computer circuitry of  claim 1 , further configured to play the additional segments of the adaptive media stream stored in the buffer when the UE enters the determined locations along the planned route. 
     
     
         3 . The computer circuitry of  claim 1 , further configured to adjust a capacity of the buffer at the UE depending on a number of additional segments to be provided to the UE prior to entering the determined locations along the planned route for the UE. 
     
     
         4 . The computer circuitry of  claim 1 , further configured to determine the locations along the planned route where the wireless network channel conditions are below the defined threshold based on expected signal to noise ratios (SNRs) along the planned route of the UE. 
     
     
         5 . The computer circuitry of  claim 1 , further configured to determine the locations along the planned route where the wireless network channel conditions are below the defined threshold based on expected frame drop rates along the planned route of the UE. 
     
     
         6 . The computer circuitry of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless channel information for the planned route is determined based on at least one of historical wireless network channel conditions, current wireless network channel conditions, or crowd sourced wireless network conditions. 
     
     
         7 . The computer circuitry of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless channel information is periodically updated for the planned route based on variations in wireless network channel conditions for the planned route. 
     
     
         8 . The computer circuitry of  claim 1 , wherein the UE includes an antenna, a touch sensitive display screen, a speaker, a microphone, a graphics processor, an application processor, internal memory, or a non-volatile memory port. 
     
     
         9 . A method for performing dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (DASH), the method comprising:
 selecting a planned route for a mobile device;   receiving wireless channel information for the planned route from a server, the server including a channel information database (CID);   determining geographical locations along the planned route where wireless network channel conditions are below a defined threshold based on the wireless channel information; and   requesting, from a media server, additional segments of a media file prior to entering the determined locations along the planned route.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving the additional segments of the media file for storage in a buffer at the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving the additional segments of the media file to enable continuous media playback of the media file during geographical locations along the planned route where the wireless network channel conditions are below the defined threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising adjusting a buffer capacity of the mobile device depending on a number of additional segments of the media file to be provided to the mobile device prior to entering the determined locations along the planned route. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining that the wireless network channel conditions at the geographical locations along the planned route are below the defined threshold based on expected signal to noise ratios (SNRs) along the planned route of the mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining that the wireless network channel conditions at the geographical locations along the planned route are below the defined threshold based on expected frame drop rates along the planned route of the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The method  claim 9 , further comprising receiving the wireless channel information from the CID via the server based on historical data of wireless network channel conditions for the planned route. 
     
     
         16 . The method  claim 9 , further comprising receiving the wireless channel information from the CID via the server based on current wireless network channel conditions for the planned route. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising restoring a previous DASH rate adaptation and buffering mechanism after exiting the determined locations along the planned route. 
     
     
         18 . A user equipment (UE) operable to perform dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (DASH), the UE having computer circuitry configured to:
 receive wireless channel information for a planned route of the UE;   determine locations along the planned route where wireless network channel conditions are below a defined threshold based on the wireless channel information; and   request, from a media server, additional segments of an adaptive media stream for storage in a cache at the UE prior to entering the determined locations along the planned route, thereby enabling continuous media playback of the media stream along the planned route, wherein the UE returns to a previous DASH rate adaptation and buffering mechanism after exiting the determined locations along the planned route.   
     
     
         19 . The computer circuitry of  claim 17 , further configured to play the additional segments of the adaptive media stream stored in the cache when the UE enters the determined locations along the planned route. 
     
     
         20 . The computer circuitry of  claim 17 , further configured to adjust a capacity of the cache at the UE depending on a number of additional segments to be provided to the UE prior to entering the determined locations along the planned route for the UE. 
     
     
         21 . The computer circuitry of  claim 17 , further configured to determine the locations along the planned route where the wireless network channel conditions are below the defined threshold based on expected signal to noise ratios (SNRs) or expected frame drop rates along the planned route of the UE. 
     
     
         22 . The computer circuitry of  claim 17 , further configured to receive the wireless channel information for the planned route from a server that includes a channel information database (CID), wherein the wireless channel information is based on historical data of wireless network channel conditions for the planned route or current wireless network channel conditions for the planned route.